Paid-for extras
Okay, this is actually in response to a pretty old article on Call Of Duty downloadble content. Can you tell me why PlayStation has to wait for a month? That sucks. By sheer fluke I got Call Of Duty: Ghosts for my PlayStation 4 for 2 quid, believing it was for the PlayStation 3 (which I have also). My intent was to sell it for a decent profit as I thought it was a pretty woeful game. Once I realised it was for the PlayStation 4 I stuck it in and have been rather addicted.

The quality in graphics is quite significant in my view, plus I prefer the PlayStation 4 controller. I bought the season pass. I like Onslaught, particularly Fog and Myers was a smart touch even If a butcher knife seemed his preferred weapon of choice. It’s a shame I have to wait a month – do you know if the next downloadable content will be the same?

I think a cool character or two they could introduce in the up coming downloadable content could be the Terminator or Freddy Krueger, or Jason or indeed the alien. There is surely hundreds of choices. Any idea who is being touted? Hope there is more to come.David

GC: Microsoft has been paying for a month’s head start with all Call Of Duty map packs for several years now, and it will continue through all the Ghosts downloads. We haven’t heard of any rumours for cameos in the next map pack, but Snoop Dogg and R. Lee Ermey have recorded some fairly cheap voice packs – but they’re timed exclusives too.

A real trial
I have to hand it to you GC, your reviews are solidly trustworthy. I bought Trials Fusion on Wednesday and to start with I loved it, but within two hours I started to get a sinking feeling, once I’d got to the required and totally legitimate sense of frustration i thought I’d break it up with a few of the other modes… I’ll have an online race I thought. Shock and disappointment there, so I looked for the trademarked ragdoll flinging fun mini -games, but they are hidden in the tracks so pick up and fling yourself doesn’t seem to be on offer (I know there’s that big air giant ramp segment but I’m pants at that one).

As this dawned on me that I’m playing half a Trials game I was taunted by the ‘Welcome to the future’ theme on a loop which I found quite ironic. Now, I will grow to love this game I’m sure but these missing parts seem to have been ignored by the gaming press, lots of 9/10s and such. Except for you (in the reviews I could find anyway), your review wouldn’t have stopped me buying it as Trials in general is great fun but you were spot on as usual.mumpy pumpy (gamertag)

Inexpensive signing
RE: Nintendo Pocket Football Club. I I just read your great review of this game. I got a notification about this through my 3DS online. They are offering it to me for £10.79. I think this is a pretty good deal and will buy it. If the StreetPass content is as good as the other titles that use it, it will be well worth playing I think.

The thing with Nintendo I find, is your initial thought at first of what might be a good game usually changes for the better when play deepens into the game. Keep up the good work!nickypfc

To be this good takes 4J
RE: Badgerman and Minecraft clones. While waiting for Minecraft to be released on Xbox 360, I downloaded a game called Fortresscraft. As far as I could tell, it was as close to a clone of Minecraft as you could get. It was clearly released to capitalise on Minecraft’s success and, since it beat Minecraft to release on Xbox Live Arcade, it apparently sold very well.

I didn’t like it, there was horrendous pop-in after if you mined out more than a few blocks in quick succession and chapter one (it was sold in chapters with each one bringing in different content) only allowed you to mine and build things. The crafting and survival aspects akin to Minecraft were to be added in in subsequent chapters, I think. I don’t know how it turned out because I played the first chapter about three times before deciding I was bored with it and never bought the other chapters.

It was obviously released that way in a bid to beat Minecraft to market, but the incomplete feel of the game what with the lack of survival and crafting, just made it feel hollow. I’ve since bought the 4J Studios port of Minecraft on Xbox 360, and have put in countless hours on it.

Good things take some time.Oz

Big name allergy
RE: Badgerman. Wait, they have cloned Minecraft a couple of times, sort of. Terraria and Starbound, they’re both 2D copies, of a sort… but… huh. They’re both very original in their own way, and both done by indie developers. Much like Minecraft itself.

Anyone else noticing a pattern here? Big name game companies having allergies to non-Lego blocks?DarkSapphire

Minor factor
It’s hardly surprising the Xbox One is behind the PlayStation 4 in sales. PlayStation 4 has been released worldwide now as far as I know where as the Xbox has not. Even mainland European countries like Portugal haven’t had it released. It’s getting released in 26 more markets in September, that’s a crippling amount if you’re fighting head to head on sales. Not to mention Japan. Which proves to be a tough nut to crack for a foreign console giving the PlayStation 4 a big edge in that market.

Even without all the media suicide Microsoft have committed a head-to-head launch would of always favoured Sony due to its superior worldwide release schedule and Japanese dominance.

Maybe it’s Microsoft’s incompetence in releasing the console that people wanted that has caused the release delays which means they only have themselves to blame.Jb316

GC: We really don’t think being released late in Portugal is a significant factor, there’s a reason those other countries were left to last. That goes double for Japan: not only were the Xbox and Xbox 360 extremely unsuccessful there but the whole Japanese home console market is dying, and even the PlayStation 4 is currently struggling to make an impact there.

Shoot like an Egyptian
Killing Time on 3DO for me, first person shooter game with a 1920s artistic feel to it and eerie atmosphere, where you also encountered ghostly occupants and mysteries on an island. And having been to Egypt on holiday the Egyptology aspect to the story greatly appealed to me.

Also loved the costumes and soundtrack and its background of high society. Remake would be great, sure the first person shooter is an overloaded genre but I feel the story and setting would offer enough to make it stand out.steve c

30 years, man and boy
My favourite retro games (and one could fit into last week’s Hot Topic because I really didn’t like it when I bought it) are Final Fantasy VII (aforementioned game) and Shenmue.

I’ve been gaming since I got a Commodore 16+, but nothing ever gripped me like Final Fantasy VII did, sinking hours and hours into creating a gold Chocobo long before the Interweb. I still remember now.

Shenmue, as boring as some people think it is was the first game I was ever truly immersed into. It didn’t feel like a game, more like virtual reality. And I can still replay the full game in my head, long after my Dreamcast finally died.

Special mentions to The Last Ninja, Head Over Heels, Operation Wolf, and Skies Of Arcadia.Diztruxion (gamertag/PSN ID)

Happy memories
Fantastic Hot Topic! The best retro game would of course be the first game I played. There’s some debate as to which was first because it’s very hazy, but it was either Sonic The Hedgehog 1 or 2 on the Sega Master System or Super Mario Bros 3.

With the Master System I loved it but I don’t recall playing loads of games on it. I do remember playing Alien Storm quite a lot, Golden Axe, something which used the gun and a motorbike game (Hang-On maybe?). On one occasion I turned it on without a cartridge in it and a game popped up which I’d never seen before. It looked like a fighting game and I was so freaked out I switched it off. I never saw it again and still don’t know what it was. Still, Sonic was the main star and it took years before I beat the first game with all the emeralds – a proud achievement indeed.

The NES was a console I adored. Again, I don’t remember playing much on it but I do remember Solstice (which I never completed but really enjoyed) and the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridge which was played quite a bit. However, the most played was Super Mario Bros. 3. I have vivid memories of being in the parlour with my sister watching my brother in awe as he played while my parents watched something else. I remember one time he was so close to completing it when the console froze and the drone made us cry in despair!

Years later, when I was in college, someone brought in a NES and yes, it was in there! People were in awe of me and amazed I knew it so well. Later the NES got damaged but Super Mario Bros. 3 got stuck in there and remained until the common room was taken from us as we moved into a new building. At least the lecturers knew where I was!

My last mention must go to the coin-op dance machines. I used to love these and indeed one Christmas I had my own dance mat to accompany the PS one my brother game me as he had a PlayStation 2. I played it so much that my legs were in agony afterwards! A few years ago, before I became ill, I was out with a friend and I saw one in a bowling alley. For a laugh, I decided to try it. Towards the end, a small crowd gathered to watch me play and I managed to get a really good score from it! Sadly I can’t do that any more but it makes me smile every time I pass one.

I’m lucky to be in an age where I’ve been able to download Sonic and Mario and replay them any time I want. They may be simple compared to blockbusters of today but they’ve made some very happy memories for me and my family. I hope I can pass this on someday so others may create happy memories themselves.bouncer0304 (NN ID)

GC: The Master System had several built-in games over the years, the most famous being Snail Maze. We’re not aware of a fighting game being one of them, but perhaps what you saw was Alex Kidd In Miracle World.

Inbox also-rans
What happened to those rumours about there being a new Crash Bandicoot? It seemed like it was going to happen and then… nothing. Any rumours GC?Ganger

Super Smash Bros. looks great, but why don’t Nintendo use it as a way to create new characters and then spin them off into their own games? If they’re so scared about creating new IP surely this would be a relatively risk free way?Pickler

This week’s Hot Topic
The talking point for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Gadfly, who asks what is your favourite piece of gaming merchandise that you own?

Actual games don’t count but anything else does, including toys, soundtracks, clothing, posters, statutes, and anything else video game related – including things you’ve made yourself. Feel free to include a picture or link, but let us know why you bought it and why it’s your favourite.

Do you think there is too much gaming merchandise nowadays or not enough? And what would be your dream purchase, that’s either too expensive or no longer available? Is there anything you’ve always thought they should make but never have?